stood looking at my maple.
They had not come
to tell her how beautiful she was.
I have watched her
over a thousand morning cups of coffee
or while outside with my dog
as she grew where her nature naturally took her.
Now, there is a big piece of her missing
from her center, where the power lines run.
Their closeness was dangerous, I know,
especially in seasons of storm or snow.
I would have hated to see her
Blackened and burned, ruined and bent,
or my neighbors' cozy kitchens and dens
gone suddenly dark,
But it hurts my heart to see her this way,
split and altered for safety's sake.
My morning coffee tastes unfamiliarly bitter
as I think of how beautiful she was.
_________
That is a beautiful poem to your maple tree. I also hate to see them hacked up strangely like that.
ReplyDeleteOh, Shay. What a touching poem. I am so sorry for the alteration to your maple tree. I guess you must now be happy she is still there. When a whopper of a summer storm split our Silk Tree (mimosa), causing the larger trunk to crash to the ground, I worried the whole tree was ruined. But the arborist was able to save the other half, which is still in bloom and looks very tall and Zen compared to spreading and draping as it was.
ReplyDeleteLong may they live, with their new shapes, to grace our lives.
You were an early bird this morning, Shay, and you got your "worm."
ReplyDelete"...where her nature naturally took her...blackened and burned, ruined and bent" (and more). As always, your poem is jam-packed with rich phrases.
I wonder what those lovely trees think when they're hacked up or mowed down. They've seen history unroll under their branches...
this is def sad...which is the lesser evil....to let and innocent fry or cut out a bit of beauty for the safety of those around them...
ReplyDeleteA fitting tribute to a friend. I wish everybody appreciated trees as deeply.
ReplyDeleteMen and their hard hats hey. Nuff said.
ReplyDeleteAs always you see human sensitivities and transition them well into words. Love your mind and your heart!
ReplyDeleteSiux: also nice words, 'They've seen history unroll under their branches..'
So sad .. just adds to my mood ...
ReplyDeleteThis hurts me to read. Old trees are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis poem was beautiful
ReplyDeleteespecially at this time of year
ReplyDeletewhen the Japanese maple dazzles
in autumn sunlight
..she may just take on a striking pose
of survival....
The trees who have gone through the most loss of limb and stress, often end up with the most character--become more beautiful than those that have the best soil and the perfect fertilization. I'd rather look at a twisted thousand year old bristlecone pine than a pouffy perfect goblet-shaped bradford pear clone any day.
ReplyDelete(That said, the power line pruner guys often just hack things up and leave a mess.)
This makes me think of the water district guys who hacked up a bush I had been gently nurturing for years. They had nary a thought for it. It is wonderful how much we can love a tree, a bush, anything living. Thank goddess those hard hats didnt cut it down, that would have been horrible. I so love your poem. Poor maple, but she is surviving, bent and with severed limbs - but intact in spirit, like us:)(I know trees feel pain when their limbs are sawed away. Silent screams.Horrible.)
ReplyDeleteI love this poem and the subject. At the corner of my home is a beautiful Rocky Mountain Maple, just gorgeous. No power lines to harm her. I hope you find a sweeter brew for your morning meditation. I will watch your words.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
DH
A great poem to your tree friend. Thanksfull, it's still alive...
ReplyDeleteI still mourn the death of one of my old Oaks's in the front yard. We had to have it cut down and I still feel it's presence. xo
the first stanza is complete,
ReplyDeletebut the rest is worthy
and turned my coffee bitter,
then sweet with appreciation
of YOUr appreciation
ciao & Aloha from Waikiki;
Comfort Spiral
> < } } ( ° >
=^.^=
><}}(°>
Beautifully said. I've had this same sad feeling before seeing trees cut away for safety reasons ;-(
ReplyDeletexo jj
:( we what we have to but it doesn't make it any happier...
ReplyDeleteI hate it when trees lose to humans too.
ReplyDeletei'm grateful she is at least still standing. *hugs*
ReplyDeleted ♥
Oh I know this. I don't blame the ones that volunteer. How are they to know? But why do people plant trees under power lines just to doom it to the chain saw cutting out it's center.
ReplyDelete